2022 - TransWilts cancellations and amendments log

[whole diary]

[grahame]

While any cancellation is regrettable (and more) the commitment to the “service which leaves Westbury at around 07:30 and the service back just after 17:30” applies to weekday services. 

Today is a weekday, right?    What has gone wrong with the commitment - is it worth the paper it was written on??

16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19
18:34 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21

18:34 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

If we accept that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s explanation is genuine (shortage of train crew), how would you suggest that the commitment to prioritise that particular service is kept today?

Judging by previous posts the commitment was "prioritise" rather than "guarantee"?

[grahame]

If we accept that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s explanation is genuine (shortage of train crew), how would you suggest that the commitment to prioritise that particular service is kept today?

Judging by previous posts the commitment was "prioritise" rather than "guarantee"?

1. I understand that there are only a limited number of crew who are familiar with the route via Melksham and I would suggest they train up at least a handful more.  The crew shortage may well be a shortage of staff who know that line today, judging by few other services effected.

2. I would suggest they staff up to crew numbers needed to run their daily services

3. On a short term basis only, I would suggest that a round trip on a line with multiple trains per hour is not run - perhaps the 17:11 Westbury to Warminster (I hate to chose a particular train) with an extra stop made in the train 17:05 from Westbury (I think I have those times right - but limited connectivity).

In January, GWR withdrew some trains as a "temporary" measure on the Swindon to Westbury line and they are still not all restored ... we have accepted this to help make remaining services robust, and, really, on such a poor, thin service anyway that should be enough.  It's a very poor show indeed where GWR not only pull other services because of a staff shortage we are already being penalised for, but those other services are the key promised prioritised one.  It does, of course, look very much easier for GWR staff who are making difficult decisions to pull a round trip or two on a diagram that starts and ends at the same place rather than something more complex - but making an easy decision is not necessarily making the right decision for the customers.

[IndustryInsider]

Didn’t someone say that Fratton crews would be route learning the route through Melksham as they will be losing their Brighton work soon?

[grahame]

Didn’t someone say that Fratton crews would be route learning the route through Melksham as they will be losing their Brighton work soon?

Yes - that's (part of?) my point 1.  Welcome, but always the promise from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) feels like "Jam tomorrow" - problems on a far, far more regular basis on the TransWilts line than elsewhere that should have been nipped on the bud and not allowed to grow to four or six hour gaps every week.

edit to add - here's a map showing current GWR cancellation - pretty typical so see the Swindon to Westbury service highlighting!

[grahame]

A hourly Devon Metro service to Taunton using the platform space vacated by the extended Cardiff trains maybe from Axminster would supplement the service giving each station a half hourly service. Axminster-Exeter would also benefit from a half hourly service.

Good luck to them ... if it actually happen and runs.  Cullompton, population 8,000 and Wellington, population 14,000 - makes sense.  Just as a 30 minute service would make sense for Melksham, population 25,000. Even a robust service every hour, rather than a flakey one every 2 or 3 hours if it runs, would be welcome.

[TaplowGreen]

Another one gone....

20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26 will be cancelled.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[grahame]

Another one gone....

20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26 will be cancelled.

This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Not a surprise.   It seems that a couple the trains do have replacement buses, and indeed that the buses are able to run all the way in the train's timings (even if leaving out Trowbridge).   Now that is spectacularly good running ...

[JayMac]

I debated whether to take the train from Melksham to Swindon this afternoon for curry night with bobm. With the plan being to catch the 2045 back.

Without checking train running I decided to drive instead. Glad I did.

[grahame]

I debated whether to take the train from Melksham to Swindon this afternoon for curry night with bobm. With the plan being to catch the 2045 back.

Without checking train running I decided to drive instead. Glad I did.

A sad reflection of how unreliable the service is that even out most ardent supporters have second thoughts about using it.

[grahame]

Not quite the "TransWilts" section.   South of Salisbury, at least, there's an SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) train 15 minutes later and this week - being school holidays - not the usual termtime capacity issue.

06:11 Swindon to Southampton Central due 08:09

06:11 Swindon to Southampton Central due 08:09 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Dilton Marsh, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton Central.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[grahame]

08:11 Warminster to Swindon due 09:03
09:13 Swindon to Westbury due 09:54

09:13 Swindon to Westbury due 09:54 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

"Never mind - it's a Sunday so we won't prioritise this train"

"Why should we provide any alternative suggestion - we'll give you your money back"

"You could wait for the next train from Westbury at 12:45 .... sure your boss in Swindon will understand"

[Timmer]

08:11 Warminster to Swindon due 09:03
09:13 Swindon to Westbury due 09:54

09:13 Swindon to Westbury due 09:54 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

"Never mind - it's a Sunday so we won't prioritise this train"

"Why should we provide any alternative suggestion - we'll give you your money back"

"You could wait for the next train from Westbury at 12:45 .... sure your boss in Swindon will understand"

With the 8.46 to Cardiff canned between Westbury and Bristol, those needing to get to Bath or Bristol for work from Westbury, Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon and other smaller stations in between are a bit stuck also. Once again showing, if you work on a Sunday in this part of the world, you cannot rely on the train to get you there.

[bobm]

For the record the 08:46 has been re-instated in the last half hour but probably won't be spotted by most intending to travel.

[grahame]

For the record the 08:46 has been re-instated in the last half hour but probably won't be spotted by most intending to travel.

Correct, BobM in stating that it wouldn't have been spotted.   Even a long way from home, I'm hearing from dispirited users saying "and even via Bath that train is cancelled too" ...

I have (reluctantly) said to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) that we have accepted the temporary loss of the 10:45 from Westbury (11:01 from Melksham provided that they run the 08:20 from Westbury (08:36 from Melksham reliably.   Call it a "Gentleman's agreement" if you like - but these past weekends they have proven themselves to be no gentlemen!   Not sure what to do / what we can do ...